Return to flip book view

Message from Supt 10-17-22

Page 1

OUR THEMEWorld-Class Champions . . . every child, every chance, every day!OUR GOALS● Provide world-class safety and a positive school culture.● Provide world-class, high-quality instruction to increase studentachievement.● Provide world-class communication and family engagement.October 17, 2022Greetings Laurens County School District 55 (LCSD 55) Community,It is so hard to believe that we have embarked on the ninth week ofschool and I must say that I am happy to see so many excited andsmiling faces each day. Our teachers are teaching and inspiring ourstudents toward academic excellence, and our students are workinghard at learning, innovation, and having fun while doing so. We arestrong advocates of literacy because literacy is the foundation of allacademic learning. We ask that you encourage all students that youcome into contact with to read. It is our hope that with our Just Take 30initiative that reading will provide a daily opportunity for travel andadventure to other worlds, other times, and the ability for our studentsto deepen their vocabulary, language, and critical thinking skills.October 19th is Unity Day. Encourage your children to show unity for kindness andacceptance, and to send a visible message that no child should ever experience bullying(no adult should ever experience bullying either, we all know that bullying is not just aschool-age behavior, it happens by adults and among adults too). Let’s all be kind to others.

Page 2

Report card conferences are quickly approaching, and we want to make sure that both familiesand educators are prepared and ready to discuss the progress of students to ensure a clearpath for the rest of the school year, especially in this unique environment. Remember that amajor goal of these conferences is to have a productive and beneficial conversation aboutstudent learning, growth, and life both at school and at home.We encourage our parents and community to stay connected to the schools by checking ourwebsite, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram pages. Information and updates flow regularlythrough these channels, as do the great things that are truly happening in Laurens CountySchool District 55.Parent/Teacher Conference Reminders and Tips1. Do your best to attend the conference and to be on time. If the time slots do not workfor you, you can try to reschedule. It is important to try and connect with someone whoplays such a pivotal role in the life of your child. Don’t miss this chance to learn aboutyour child and see what you can do to partner in their development.2. Before going into the conference, jot down a few key things that you want to talkabout with the teacher. Keep in mind that the teacher probably also has an agenda ofthings he wants to talk about, and there is limited time, so be sure to narrow down yourtalking points to a few major things.3. Exchange information with the teacher. Don’t assume that only the teacher has thingsto share about the student. You have more than enough knowledge about your child toexchange with the teacher as well. If your child loves dinosaurs or soccer, let the teacherknow. Sharing your child’s quirks, likes, and dislikes can give the teacher a holisticunderstanding of who the student is and come up with a better plan to help him succeed.4. Discuss the child as a whole - not only academically but also emotionally, physically,and socially. Digital learning has had effects on students that should be acknowledgedand tackled together. Take note of how your child is engaging with online learning andwhat your child’s participation in class looks like. Your student’s report card is just asnapshot of how your child is doing at school, but pay attention to the fuller picture of hisor her growth.

Page 3

5. Take notes during the conference. Jot down three major areas: things your child isdoing well, things your child is struggling with, and ways to reinforce learning at schoolwith strategies at home.6. Note practical action steps to move forward, and communicate them with the teacher.For example, if you feel like you might want to have a chat with the teacher every monthto check in on a challenge your child is having, think of a schedule that works for youboth.7. Give the benefit of the doubt - remember that all parties involved in the conference arethere for the child’s good. Assume that the other wants the child to advance in bothlearning and life skills.Remember, collaboration and communication are the keys to a beneficial conference! If boththe teacher and the caregiver are playing for the same team, you’re more likely to make a goaltogether and accomplish them.NATIONAL SCHOOL BUS SAFETY WEEKOctober 17-21 is National School Bus Safety Week. School bustransportation plays a critical role in the education of our nation'sstudents, and is the direct link between a neighborhood and theclassroom. More than 25 million children nationwide ride theyellow bus every school day, and National School Bus SafetyWeek serves as a reminder for students, parents, teachers, andthe community to keep school bus safety in the forefront.As part of our education program to address the importance ofschool bus safety in LCSD 55, students and staff at each school have been participating in schoolbus safety evacuation drills.

Page 4

WYFF 4 GOLDEN APPLE AWARD WINNERAnna Barker, Teacher Librarian at Sanders Middle School hasbeen selected as a Golden Apple Award recipient. This award issponsored by Ingles and WYFF News 4 to honor teachers whogo above and beyond.STUDENTS RECEIVE GIFTSFord Elementary School students recently received gifts of shoes, socks, and hoodies. This wasmade possible through the generosity of Samaritan’s Feet and Wal-Mart.

Page 5

READING UNDER THE STARSThe Reading under the Stars event was held onOctober 14 in K.C. Hanna Stadium. Thank you toall who attended this family fun event.DREAMBOX MATHCHALLENGEThis is a fun learningresource for studentsin grades K-5! Beginning November 1,there will be a monthly challenge of 5lessons per week and chances forstudents to win prizes, with theelementary school having the mostwinners receiving the trophy to displayfor a month.“Reading is a discount ticketto everywhere.”Mary Schmich

Page 6

OCTOBER IS NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTION MONTHOctober is also National Bullying Prevention Month. Much of thebullying among students occurs in the form of cyberbullying andspills out onto the school campus. Bullying was once thought of assimply a rite of passage or relatively harmless behavior that helpsbuild young people's character and resilience. We now know thatbullying has long-lasting harmful effects, for both the victim and thebully.Among the challenges for schools is that students don't always report bullying to their schools ortheir parents. As a result, the extent of bullying is underestimated. There are many reasonsstudents choose not to report bullying. Fearing retaliation, feeling ashamed, and having noconfidence that anything will change if they do report it are the most common reasons for notreporting.Mental health problems stem from bullying. Please encourage your child to report any acts ofbullying as soon as possible. National Bullying Prevention Month is also the time we bringeveryone's attention to the mental health crisis among America's youth and the need for parentsand schools to focus on social emotional learning (SEL) and mental health support.Supporting our students' mental health is an indispensable part of our daily work and isimplemented as part of a system of mental wellness supports and resources that includesrecognizing National Bullying Prevention Month as a time to focus and raise awareness aboutbullying and its harmful effects.

Page 7

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS NEEDEDIf you are interested in becoming a substitute teacher in LCSD 55, pleasecontact Kiantae Boyd at 877-983-2244 or Kboyd@ess.com.CAREER FAIRLCSD 55 is hosting a career fair for certified educators on Thursday, October 20.BOARD OF TRUSTEESThe LCSD 55 Board of Trustees will have a work session on Monday,October 24, at 4:45 p.m. in the large training room of the districtadministrative office. The regular monthly meeting will follow at 6:30p.m. Limited seating is available for in-person attendance at the worksession and meeting. Doors will open at 4:15 p.m. for the work session,and at 6:00 p.m. for the meeting. Seats are filled on a first come firstserve basis. The work session and meeting will be broadcast via Live Feed on YouTube and thelink will be posted to the district website at www.laurens55.org.

Page 8

LACE UP FOR LITERACYRegistration is underway for the Lace UP for Literacy 5K Run/Walkscheduled for Saturday, November 5.Additional information is available here.The registration link is available here.REVIEW OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALSThe public is invited to review textbooks and instructional materials that have beenproposed for use in South Carolina’s public schools. The materials will be on display attwelve locations from October 11–November 14, 2022, with instructions for submittingcomments available at each site.In addition to the display sites, digital access will be available for the recommendedprograms. On October 10th, the publisher-provided links will be posted online (2022 VirtualPublic Review). The materials recommended by the Instructional Materials Review Panelswill be submitted to the State Board of Education (SBE) for adoption on December 13,2022. The SBE will receive public comments before a final decision is made on adoptingthe instructional materials.Following are the recommended materials and information about review sites.The recommended materials are in thefollowing subject areas:• Advanced Baking and Pastry• Advanced Placement European History• Biology 1, 2, and Advanced Placement• Civics• Computer Applications• Digital Art and Design 1, 2, 3, 4• Digital Media Marketing• Digital Multimedia• Digital Workplace Applications• Esthetics• Event and Entertainment Management• Fundamentals of Healthcare• Image Editing• International Business• Nutrition and WellnessCollege or university campus location for the public reviewsites:• Bob Jones University, 1700 Wade Hampton Blvd.,Greenville, SC, 29614-0001• Clemson University, College of Education, 212 Tillman Hall,Education Media Center, Clemson, SC, 29634• Coker University Library, 300 E. College Ave., Hartsville,SC, 29550• Columbia College, 1301 Columbia College Drive, Columbia,SC, 29203• Columbia International University Library, 7435 MonticelloRoad, Columbia, SC, 29230-3122• Converse College, Nickel Library, 580 E Main St,Spartanburg, SC, 29302• Furman University, James B. Duke Library, 3300 PoinsettHighway, Greenville, SC, 29613• Limestone University, 1115 College Dr., Gaffney, SC, 29340• Newberry College, Center of Teacher Education, 1121Speers Street, Newberry, SC, 29108• University of South Carolina Beaufort Library - Bluffton, 8East Campus Drive, Bluffton, SC, 29909• University of South Carolina-Aiken, 471 University Parkway,BE 238D, Aiken, SC, 29801• Winthrop University, 611 Myrtle Drive, Withers Room 307,Rock Hill, SC, 29732

Page 9

PARENT PORTALLaurens County School District 55 offers parents/guardians electronic webaccess to their student’s school information through the PowerSchoolParent Portal. By using this system, you can see your student’sattendance, grades, fill out important forms, etc. This is a great tool tohave a positive impact on your student’s progress in school bycommunicating regularly with teachers, monitoring results, and academicprogress reports. Additionally, the SDE has uploaded a Directory andMilitary Opt-Out Survey in Parent Portal for any parent interested in opting-out of those areas.Easy Steps to Set Up Your Account:1. Call or visit your student’s school to get your student’s personal Access ID and Access Password. This stepis very important to protect their information.2. Go to the PowerSchool Parent Portal link under the Quick Links tab on the LCSD55 website(www.laurens55.org) and then click on the PowerSchool – Students, Parents, Guardians link underParents and Students. If you have already created an account for another child, simply log in and add theAccess ID and Access Password of another child you wish to add.3. Review the Terms of Use. By using the Parent Portal, you agree to these terms. Click on thePowerSchool Parent Portal button.4. You must create your account at the bottom of the screen. Click the Create Account button.5. Enter your first name, last name, and email address (this should be an email address you use regularly).6. Enter your user name and password. These can be almost anything you wish.7. Under Link Students to Account, enter your student’s name. This is for your use.8. In the Access ID and Access Password box, enter the information received from your student’s school andthen choose the relationship from the dropdown box.9. Click Enter.10. After clicking Submit, you will be taken to the login page where you can immediately login to view yourstudent’s information. You can subscribe to notifications and updates (upper right-hand corner), and it isrecommended you select Weekly when subscribing to reduce the amount of email you will receive.If you have other children, you can enter them once you receive their access codes (each student code isdifferent).P-EBT CLARIFICATION● Students who were enrolled in LCSD 55 the last 20 days of the2021-2022 school year qualified for the second round of payments.● This is a one-time only payment. Students who already received fundswill not receive the next round.● New cards will be mailed to all eligible students.● The cards for the second round will start arriving via mail in November;more than likely it will be after November 15, 2022, when the cards willarrive.● Parents can check the DSS portal after November 1, 2022, for newlyeligible students that were enrolled in a NSLP school during the2021-2022 school year. Please do not call the school district nor the SCDepartment of Education requesting this information, as neither agency has access to it at this time.● All inquiries should be submitted to PEBT@ed.sc.gov.● Issuance of P-EBT will be in accordance with Federal Law upon which the program is based.

Page 10

STAY IN THE KNOWA weekly video to share school district newsOctober 7, 2022October 14, 2022A podcast of one-on-one conversationsLDHS Principal Lewis ComptonA chance to hear how L55 has positivelyimpacted studentsKauree MunyanCLOSINGOn behalf of the Board of Trustees, administrators, and staff, thank you for your partnership,your support, and your continued engagement with us as we work together to serve yourchildren and our community. Your input is greatly valued and we love to hear from you. Contactme at athomas@laurens55.org, call 864-984-3568, attend our school and district events, or viewour school board meetings. Have a great week!Sincerely,Ameca C. Thomas, Ph.D.Proud Superintendent ofLaurens County School District 55Laurens County School District #55 is committed to the principle of equal opportunity. It is thepolicy of the district not to discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, color, age, nationalorigin, immigrant status, English-speaking status, familial status, or disability with regard tostudents, employees, or applicants for admission or employment.